Jason Georges/KPCC

It's a critical time for immigration reform in this country. Washington is getting set to make major changes, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1980's. The issues affect families, economies and touch every aspect of American life.

It's a critical time for immigration reform in this country. Washington is getting set to make major changes, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1980's under President Ronald Reagan. The issues affect families every day, alter economies for years and touch every aspect of American life. We are, after all, a nation of immigrants. Who has the power to shape this new legislation? How will problems of border security, visas, cultural differences, family unification and more be solved? Why are lawmakers keen to enact change now? Has there been a paradigm shift? AirTalk's Larry Mantle invited stakeholders and audience members to this timely discussion, sponsored by Community Advocates, Inc.

Guests:

Professor Gabriel J. Chin - Professor Chin is a professor of law at the University of California, Davis Law School. He is a scholar of immigration law, criminal procedure and race and the law. He has been widely published in law journals and in lay publications on the issue of immigration.

Jessica Vaughan - Ms.Vaughan serves as Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, DC-based research institute that examines the impact of immigration on American society. Her articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, The Economist, In the National Interest, Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, Arizona Republic and other publications.

Professor Dowell Myers - Professor Myers is professor of policy, planning, and demography at the University of Southern California, where he also directs the USC PopDynamics Research Group. Professor Myers is an interdisciplinary scholar well known for his research on the interaction between demographics and many aspects of public policy. He also is the author of the award-winning book Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America.

Mickey Kaus - Mr. Kaus writes the Kausfiles, a blog at the Daily Caller. In 1999 he was among the first American political bloggers on the internet. He was a candidate for the California Democratic nomination for the US Senate in 2010. Kaus is the author of The End of Equality and has worked as a journalist for Newsweek, The New Republic and Washington Monthly, among others.